North Korea denounces US-South Korea joint military drills: KCNA
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A KCNA commentary called the US and South Korea “warmongers” that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula, denouncing the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- North Korea condemned the US-South Korea joint military drills, calling them acts of warmongering that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
- US President Trump ordered a substantial reduction in US participation, aiming to improve relations with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
- Despite the drills continuing, North Korea warned the exercises worsen regional tensions but did not specify its response measures.
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SEOUL – North Korea denounced military drills by the US and South Korea, saying it would continue exercising its right to self-defence to counter what it called military threats from the two countries, state media KCNA reported on Aug 19.
A KCNA commentary called the US and South Korea “warmongers” that raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula, denouncing the 11-day Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.
The criticism comes after US President Donald Trump on Aug 16 ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” US participation in the annual exercise, and mentioned his “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Trump also said on Aug 17 that Kim had responded to his outreach, without disclosing the nature of the contact.
The drills began as scheduled on Aug 17, but South Korean media reported US Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson visited South Korea’s Defence Ministry on Aug 18 to discuss plans to scale back the exercise.
Trump has sought to revive engagement with Kim, under whose leadership North Korea has expanded its nuclear weapons and missile programmes despite UN sanctions.
The KCNA commentary did not mention Trump or his actions.
Pyongyang routinely denounces the allies’ exercises as hostile, while Washington and Seoul say the drills are defensive and necessary to maintain readiness against North Korea’s military threats.
KCNA said the allies’ actions would worsen tensions across the peninsula and wider Asia-Pacific region. The KCNA commentary did not specify the measures North Korea would take. REUTERS
